The Spatial Patterns of Red Beds and Danxia Landforms: Implication for the formation factors–China

Abstract

This research examined the distribution features of red beds and 1,100 Danxia landform sites across China, while probing the relationship between these spatial patterns and geological elements. This study is based on geological and tectonic maps of China. ArcGIS software was used to process the adjacent index, then perform a spatial analysis of Danxia landforms and red beds, and a coupling analysis of Danxia landforms and red beds with tectonics. Based on a point pattern analysis of Danxia landforms, the adjacent index is 0.31, and the coefficient of variation verified by Thiessen polygon reaches 449%. These figures reflect the clustered distribution pattern of the Danxia landforms. Across the country, Danxia landforms are concentrated into three areas, namely, the Southeast China region, the Sichuan Basin region and the Qilian-Liupan region. The exposure of red beds covers 9.16 × 105 km2, which accounts for 9.5% of the total land area of China. With this research background, the geological elements of tectonics and their effects on the distribution, number, and spatial pattern of Danxia landforms and red beds were analyzed.